Two Important Vegetable Production Pathogens Confirmed in NJ

Dickeyasp., an aggressive form of Black leg, has been confirmed on potato in New Jersey.
Symptoms of Dickeya infection look similar to Black leg infection and can cause significant rot above ground (stems and foliage) and below ground (tubers). Very little information is available on Dickeya, since it is most likely a new pathogen on potato to the US. It has also been found in Europe in recent years.

Bacterial leaf spot race 6 was confirmed on bell pepper near Vineland this past week. All bell and non-bell pepper varieties currently grown in New Jersey lack resistance to this race of the pathogen.
All pepper growers need to scout on a regular basis and know what BLS resistance packages the varieties they grow carry. Bell pepper varieties such as Tomcat and 1819 carry resistance to races 1 to 5. Thus, if symptoms of BLS appear on either variety then race 6 is most likely present on the farm and any pepper that lacks resistance to race 6 has the potential to become infected.